PRÉCIS ON GREAT THINGS STARTING AS SMALL THINGS: EVEN THE VERY SON OF THE LIVING GOD

SCRIPTURE. “But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).” – MICAH 5:2, AMPC

KEY TERM: “LITTLE.” ‘Tsair’ [צָעִיר֙]: “‘Ignoble, young, the least of;’ small, insignificant.” NOTE: “The Hebrew word ‘tsair’ is used to describe someone or something that is young, small, or considered the least in terms of size, age, or importance. It often refers to the youngest member of a family or group, or to something that is considered less significant or minor.”

QUOTATION. “For the Proverb says, ‘Many small things make a great one.’ And thus hearken unto this example: A great wave of the sea comes along some times with such intense violence that it sinks the ship. And the same harm do some times the small drops of water which enter through a little crevice into the bilge in the bottom of the ship, if men be so negligent that they do not discharge these small drops of water in time. And, therefore, although there be a difference betwixt these two causes of sinking, in any case, the ship is sunk.” ― GEOFFREY CHAUCER,  The Canterbury Tales, 1400; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah.’—This is a passage of immense significance, through the interpretation given to it by the chief priests and scribes in the Gospel of St. Matthew. ‘Beth-lehem Ephratah:’ The two names, modern and ancient, are united, each of them having reference to the fertility of the country. In the Gospel the sScribes quote, evidently from memory, the passage from Micah, in reply to Herod’s question; and their first variation is in the title of the town—’Thou, Beth-lehem (not Ephratah, but), land of Judah.’ So also the people protested against Jesus on the ground of His being from Galilee, for, ‘Hath not the Scripture said that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?’ (John 7:42.)

‘Though thou be little.’ — Strictly, ‘art little’ among the thousands, or Chiliads: A word analogous to our ‘hundreds;’ a division of the tribes. In St. Matthew the word is paraphrased by princes, as representing the chiliads.

‘Yet out of thee.’—St. Matthew—‘for out of thee,’ the illative conjunction—helps to show that the quotation is really a paraphrase, conveying the ultimate intention of the prophet’s words, which contrasts the smallness of the chiliad with the greatness of its destiny.

‘Whose goings forth have been from of old.’—The nativity of the Governor of Israel is evidently contrasted with an Eternal Nativity, the depth of which Mystery passes the comprehension of human intellect: it must be spiritually discerned. The Creed of the Church expresses the article of faith as ‘Begotten of His Father before all worlds.’ He came forth unto Me to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting, from the days of antiquity.” – CHARLES ELLICOTT, An Old and New Testament Commentary for English Readers (Editor), 1878, 1897; edited

DK’S TAKE. There are any number of Lessons we can extract from this rich and Christocentric passage, but the one on which I want to focus in embedded in the Title of these essay: “Great things Start as Small things.” Or at least they’re supposed to.

So from this, I offer FOUR TAKAWAYS for our encouragement.

• DAVID’S MIGHTY MEN. “Everyone who was suffering hardship, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him.” – 1 SAMUEL 22:2, AMP

• FROM HUMBLE ORIGINS. “Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For these seven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord which roam throughout the earth.” – ZECHARIAH 4:10, AMP

• GOD IS GLORIFIED. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” – 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27-29, NKJV

• WE MUST CHOOSE! “But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” – JAMES 4:6, AMP

CODA. Now then: If you are feeling “Small” these days, let this be rich hope for you. So long as you are seeking to please God in all that you do – misfires and all – He says this to you:

“Look up! Your Promotion and your Redemption draweth nigh!” ‘